Chapter 844 One wave subsides, another rises
Jiang Fenghua stood at a distance, gazing in the direction Jiang Jinyan and Sang Yupianpian had left, lost in thought.
The older brother is only good-looking, but he's dull and lacks charm. Does Sang Yupianpian like him that much?
What was the deeper meaning behind Xie Shang asking her elder brother to take her home?
Let the eldest brother seduce Her Majesty the Queen of Chaoxi Kingdom.
Jiang Fenghua shook off the filthy thoughts in her mind; her older brother wouldn't do that.
She did not follow Xie Shang back to the Imperial Study. Seeing Shangguan Li leading people on patrol, she walked up to Shangguan Li.
Upon seeing the Empress arrive, Shangguan Li hurriedly bowed and said, "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."
Jiang Fenghua nodded. "I haven't thanked Captain Shangguan for the ancient book yet. Thank you, Captain Shangguan. I'd like to know if anyone in your Shangguan family has ever seen a whale?"
Shangguan Li smiled and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. This is all what I should do. Your Majesty need not be so polite. Actually, my grandfather liked to collect strange and interesting stories and record things he encountered in life. When I was a child, I once saw the image of a whale in my grandfather's record book. I thought it was very terrifying and huge, and it left a deep impression on me."
Seeing that the Empress remained silent, Shangguan Li lowered his voice and said, "The assassin has a whale pattern on his body, and the totem of the Northern Owl Kingdom is also a whale pattern. Now, the envoy of the Northern Owl Kingdom has suddenly come to visit and ask the Great Zhou to give up the northern territory. I think they are deliberately trying to provoke our dissatisfaction so that they can take the opportunity to cause trouble. They may have long had the intention of seizing the northern territory."
Jiang Fenghua glanced at him, a smile of appreciation curving her lips. "Captain Shangguan sees things very clearly."
Shangguan Li smiled and said, "The envoy from the Northern Xiao Kingdom is very hostile. Our Shangguan family has been military officers for generations, so we are still vigilant."
"I wish to investigate the history of the Northern Owl Kingdom. I wonder if your grandfather could help me find the answers."
Shangguan Li said, "My grandfather is eighty-nine years old. He is in poor health, has difficulty walking, and his eyesight is also failing. It may be inconvenient for him to enter the palace."
"I wish to leave the palace to meet General Shangguan. Captain Shangguan, please introduce me to him!"
Shangguan Li quickly replied, "This humble servant can send someone to fetch my grandfather to the palace; Your Majesty need not go in person."
Jiang Fenghua then thought that Xie Shang should also meet with General Shangguan, since he must have summoned the ministers to the Imperial Study to discuss the arrival of envoys from various countries in the capital.
"After the banquet, the Emperor and I will personally visit the old general at the Shangguan residence," Jiang Fenghua said.
Shangguan Li did not refuse, because his grandfather's legs were indeed inconvenient, and he was old, so sending him to the palace would only be a hassle for him.
"Why haven't I seen Miss Aoxue these past few days?" Shangguan Li asked.
Jiang Fenghua said, "She and Mr. Gongsun went to take care of some business."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Shangguan Li's eyes, and Jiang Fenghua saw through his thoughts at a glance. "You like Aoxue?"
Shangguan Li suddenly became nervous. "This subordinate...no."
Jiang Fenghua smiled, "It's perfectly normal to like her, Captain Shangguan, there's no need to feel embarrassed."
Shangguan Li knew that Aoxue was very sad because of Yeying's death, but the dead are gone, and he hoped that Aoxue could return to her normal life.
Jiang Fenghua then asked, "Isn't Commander Shang in the palace? You've been on duty there recently."
Shangguan Li said, "Commander Shang has taken leave, but Your Majesty, please rest assured, we were all trained by Commander Shang and will do our best to protect the safety of the palace."
Jiang Fenghua asked, "What happened to the merchant?"
She had to be wary of whether Shang Hong would betray her.
Shangguan Li received Commander Shang's instructions, which told him to obey the Empress's orders in everything and to inform her if anything happened. It seems that Commander Shang trusts the Empress very much.
He said, "I heard that the Shang family is arranging a marriage for the Commander, and the bride is the daughter of the Minister of Works. Lord Shang should be getting married soon!"
Jiang Fenghua felt as if she had been struck by lightning upon hearing this news. "Who is he going to marry?"
“The daughter of Minister Shen of the Ministry of Works.” Shangguan Li continued, “Lord Shang’s wife died early, so marrying Lord Shen’s daughter can be considered a second marriage! His first wife left behind two young children who cannot be without their mother’s care, so…”
Jiang Fenghua ignored what he was saying and said in a deep voice, "Send someone to summon Shang Hong to the palace to see me."
Shangguan Li was stunned. The Empress's face turned very ugly. What happened?
He didn't dare delay and immediately sent someone out of the palace to the Shang residence.
Upon receiving the notification, Shang Hong also rushed to Kunning Palace.
Jiang Fenghua was waiting for him in the front hall. When Shang Hong arrived, she dismissed everyone and had Hongxiu and Lianye stand guard outside the door.
Shang Hong quickly bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Jiang Fenghua's eyes were cold. He Lan Yanran and Shang Hong had committed an affair and she was even pregnant. Such a thing had happened in the harem. She suppressed the anger in her chest and was now cleaning up the mess she had made by letting them leave the palace.
"I heard that Lord Shang is getting married," Jiang Fenghua said coldly.
Shang Hong was startled and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty."
Jiang Fenghua said coldly, "Speak. The people outside are all my people. If you dare to lie to me, your position as Commander Shang may be in jeopardy."
Now that things had come to this, how could Shang Hong dare to lie to the Empress? "It was a marriage arranged by my parents, and I did not agree to it..."
"Just give me the result." Jiang Fenghua didn't want to hear his explanation; no matter how much he explained, it was just him making excuses.
"The wedding date has been set for next month," Shang Hong said.
"How did Helan Yanran arrange it?" she asked.
Shang Hong's eyes were full of guilt. "My parents said that after Lan'er gives birth, I will bring her into the manor."
Jiang Fenghua smiled coldly, "The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Changping's family wants to become a concubine in your Shang family. Do you know what the consequences will be if the Marquis of Changping finds out? Shang Hong, what promises did you make to me back then? How could you face her?"
Shang Hong was at a loss. "I didn't want to either, but Lan'er's identity is very awkward. If I were to marry her formally, her identity would be difficult to explain to the world. If I were to let her into the mansion now, the Shen family would definitely not be willing."
"I'm asking you how you plan to explain this to Helan Yanran." Jiang Fenghua
Shang Hong was speechless for a moment, unable to utter a single word.
Jiang Fenghua said coldly, "Since you haven't figured anything out, how did you dare to take her out of the palace in the first place, and how did you dare to do such a beastly thing to her?"
Helan Yanran is a concubine in the imperial harem. It's inevitable that she'll feel lonely in the deep palace. A man can easily seduce her, and she'll fall for him. But Lord Shang, you are a mature man. You've been married and have children, and you're the commander of the Imperial Guards. Having an affair with a concubine is a capital offense. Don't you know that?"
Shang Hong knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, spare my life, I..."
Jiang Fenghua lowered her voice and said, "The Helan family has been searching for their daughter. You should send Helan Yanran back to the Lady of Changping Marquis!"
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